Machine for exterminating potato-bugs



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. L. ALGER.

MACHINE FOR EXTBRMINATING POTATO BUGS.

No. 422,277. Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. L. ALGER.

MACHINE FOR EXTERMINATING POTATO BUGS.

No. 422,277. Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. ALGER, OF GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR EXTERMINATING POTATO-BUGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,277, dated February 25, 1890.

Application filed February 2, 1889. $erial No. 298,527. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED L. ALGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful P0 tato-Beetle'Exterminating Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine operated by horse-power for the purpose of applying parisgreen, arsenic, or other poisonous substance mixed in water to growing potato-vines for the destruction of the potato-beetle, which application of parisgreen, arsenic, or other poisonous substance is now generally applied by hand-sprinklers and is Very expensive and laborious; I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents a top view of the machine. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the machine. Fig. 3 representsa front sectional view of the front wheel of the machine and the method of connecting the same with the body of the machine. i Fig. 4 shows a tin tube terminating in a zinc screw-cap. Fig. 5 represents a spraying-head, terminating at the back end of a zinc tube-screw, which screw fits the zincscrew-cap represented in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 represents Figs. 1 and 5 united.

In Fig. 1 a (1 represent the hind wheels of the machine, which revolve on an ordinary wood and iron axle.

b in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 represents the front Wheel, which revolves on the iron axle 0. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 3.) The front. wheel 17 is held in position on axle c by the perpendicular iron bars 61 cl and nuts 6 e, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the bars d d are firmly bolted to the circular iron plate f, Figs. 2 and 3, the upper face of which faces a corresponding face in the lower side of the iron plate g, Figs. 2 and 3, which plate has edges projecting down over the upper edges of plate f. (See Fig. 3.) The plate g is firmly bolted to the wooden frame h 71, Figs. 1 and 2, side view only in Fig. 2.

Iron platesf and 9 have a circular hole in the center, as has also the wooden frame h h, Fig. 1. (See sectional View, Fig. 3.) Through these holes is dropped a heavy draw-bolt 1;, Figs. 2 and 3, a nutandlook-nutbeingplaced on the lower extremity of bolt t'. This bolt t holds the upper face of plate f against the corresponding lower face of plate 9. This combination forms a swivel-joint at the union of iron plates f and g.

j 3', Fig. 1, represent a pair of thills attached to the extremities of the axle c, Fig. 1, for the purpose of attaching a horse to the machine. I

By the construction of the swivel-joint at the union of the plates f and g the machine can be turned around in a very small space and obviates the driving over or trampling upon the potato-vines.

The wooden frame h h consists of two timbers connecting the axle of the hind wheels at a with the draw-bolt i and the swivel-joint at the union of iron plates f and g.

The body of the machine is nearly triangular in form and consists of the timbers h h, Fig. 1, covered on top with boards. Near the back end of this body and nearly over the hind axle is situated a circular tank 70, Figs. 1 and 2, said tank being larger at top than at bottom, the object of this being that the pressure of the water in the tank will continue longer than when the bottom is larger. Near the bottom of tank 70 and nearly in front, about forty-five degrees apart, are situated two stop-cocks, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, and is marked S. To the outer projection of each of these stop-cocks is attached a rubber hose, as shown. by m in Fig. 2 and on min Fig. 1.

In the other end of each of the hose on m is placed the tin tube shown in Fig. 4:, into the zinc screw-cap of which is screwed a spraying-head, such as shown by Fig. 5. shows Figs. 4: and 5 united.

Under the body of the machine and towardthe front end is bolted a board a n, Fig. 1, and on each side of the frame h h and in the center of the board at n is cut a narrow slot, indicated by 0 o. Across the board an, on each side of the body of the machine, is placed the rubber hose m m at the place of union of said hose with Fig. 6, and in Fig. 1 indicated by p p. The spraying-heads and rubber tubes or hose are held in position on the board a n, Fig. 1, by oblong semicircular caps which terminate in the center and on the lower side in Fig. 6

a bolt and nut, as indicated by q in Fig. 2. The slots 0 0 in the board it n permit the spraying-heads to be placed at any distance apart desired, ranging from two to five feet. Sprayin g-heads the faces of which vary in convexity are provided for the purpose of spraying a narrow or wide space, as desired. The planefaced head spraying a narrow space, a more convex one should be substituted when it is desired to spray a wider space. All of the spraying-heads terminate at the back end in a uniform zinc screw-tube, as shown in Fig. 5, fitting the serew-cap, Fig. l.

4' in Figs. land 2 is a plain bench-seat for driver. On the hub of the left hind wheel of the machine is secured an iron wheel 8, as

shown in Fig. 2, with projecting cogs suitable for running a chain belt t, Fig. 2. The chain belt 2? passes over another iron wheel with projecting cogs, as shown in Fig. 2, letter a. The wheel a is attached to the left end of a circular shaft, which revolves in suitable boxings secured to standard c,Fig. 2, and stand ard w. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The right end of the shaft terminates in a crank 00 in Figs. 1

and 2, which is connected by a pin to a dash 1 having its forward end tapering-of the tank arranged thereon, the laterally extending slotted straight bars secured to the tapering portion of the frame, the flexible hose leading from the tank, and stop-cocks at the inner end of the hose, the spraying-nozzles attached to the outer ends of the hose, and the couplings P for adjustably connecting the said hose in the slotted bars, whereby the same may be moved laterally, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the main frame of approximately triangular form, of the circular plate g, secured to the forward under side thereof, the circular plate f, arranged on the under side of the plate g and within the marginal flange of the latter, the bolt securing the two plates to the frame, the front wheel Z), carrying an axle c, and the arms d, connecting the hub of said wheel with the circular plate f by the bolts, substantially as specified.

3. The improved apparatus described,consisting of the triangular-shaped frame, the rear axle and wheels thereon, the sprocketgear on the axle, the tank arranged on the main frame, the standard, the shaft journaled in said standard and carrying at one end a sprocket-gear and at its opposite end an arm, a chain or belt connecting said gears, and a dasher arranged in the tank and having its upper end connected with said arm, the slotted bar 01, extending laterally from the forward tapering part of the main frame, the flexible hose adj ustably secured in the slotted bar by clamps I, the spray-nozzles secured to the outer ends of the hose and stop-cocks secured to the inner ends thereof, the circularlyflanged plate g on the forward under side of the frame, the circularplate f, arranged within the flange of the plate g, the bolt 11, securing the plates to the frame, the vertical arms (I, secured at their upper ends by bolts to the plate f and their lower ends carrying an axle, and a wheel I) on the axle supported by the said arms, all adapted to operate substantially as specified.

. FRED L. ALGER.

\Vitnesses:

NINA C. ALGER, CORA ALGER. 

